Aerospace Defense Forum

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“Financing Growth of A&D Companies”

“Financing Growth of A&D Companies”
Orange County Chapter meeting on October 2Money

The economy is back. Build rates are rising. New aircraft models are coming. What to do??

Financing Growth of A&D Companies: Buying new equipment? Buying a product line or a competitor?

Please join us in Costa Mesa, CA on Thursday, October 2, 2014 (networking at 7:00am, meeting 7:30– 9:00am PST), when a panel of experts, including Paul Hayama (Partner, Avante Mezzanine Partners), Bob Swelgin (President, Smart Electronics and Lark Engineering), George Uhl (Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager, Community Bank) and Larry Schultz (Moderator) (Partner, Hein & Associates) will outline the various strategies for funding any number of growth profiles from simple equipment financing to rolling up A&D companies.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members and $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until September 25). Click here to register to attend the meeting

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter was founded by Frontier Associates and D.A. Davidson & Co., and is sponsored by Burdge Logistics, Moss Adams, Hein & Associates, Value Based Project Management, Dorsey & Whitney, and UK Trade & Investment.

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“The UAV Market Opportunity and Southern California”

“The UAV Market Opportunity and Southern California”

San Diego Chapter meeting on September 23puma_ae_web

There has been a lot of press recently about the promise of UAVs in commercial and civil applications, including use of UAVs for delivery, search and rescue, and in the agriculture and energy sectors. But does the hype match the reality? And how long will it take for the promise of UAVs to be realized? For example:
• When will the FAA regulations on commercial use of Small UAVs finally be published and what will the impact be?
• When will the U.S. Market for Commercial use of SUAVs take off?
• What are the applications for SUAVs most likely to get traction in the near term?

Please join us in San Diego on Tuesday, Seotember 23, 2014 (networking at 7:00am, meeting 7:30– 9:00am PST), when a distinguished panel of representatives from some of Southern California’s premier UAV companies will be seeking to answer these and other questions. Panel members are:

• Thomas Cunningham, Head of Acquisition, Investment and Partnering, AeroVironment, Inc.
• Jill Meyers, Head of Project Management, 3D Robotics
• Larry Osborn, EVP and Chief Strategy Officer, Dreamhammer, Inc.
• John Gaffney (Moderator), Managing Principal, Renaissance Strategy Advisors

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members and $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until September 16). For more information and to register to attend the meeting go to http://adfsdsep14.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The San Diego chapter was founded by Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton and Frontier Associates, and is sponsored by Capital Edge Consulting, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, LevitZacks, Opus Bank and BNY Mellon Wealth Management.

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“The EDGE Innovation Network”

“The EDGE Innovation Network”
Arizona Chapter September 9 meetingInnovation 1

Supported by General Dynamics C4 Systems, the EDGE Innovation Network is an open community model where industry, academia, non-profit and government organizations can collaborate to rapidly deliver new technologies and innovative capabilities to warfighters, homeland security professionals and first responders. Membership is free.

Please join us in Phoenix on Tuesday, September 9, 2014, (networking at 7:00am, meeting 7:30– 9:00am), when Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Pete Palmer, Director, EDGE Innovation Network will discuss how EDGE can potentially increase business opportunities in the government sector and industry for small and mid-size companies by focusing research investments on technology and capabilities that customers and users truly need.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members and $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until September 2). For more information and to register to attend the meeting, go to http://adfazsep14.eventbrite.com.

Click here for more information about and to join The Aerospace & Defense Forum.

The Arizona Chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is led by individuals from Phoenix Logistics, KinetX Aerospace, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Greenberg Traurig, Snell & Wilmer, and Frontier Associates.

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“The Evolving Commercial Aftermarket: No Longer Just About Passenger Travel”

“The Evolving Commercial Aftermarket: No Longer Just About Passenger Travel”
Orange County Chapter meeting on September 4aftermarket

This session will explore the changing dynamics of the commercial aerospace aftermarket. Since the great recession, the aftermarket has been very volatile, and the historical relationship of commercial aftermarket demand with passenger and cargo traffic has been decoupled. We have seen an explosion of used material, significant changes in airline maintenance trends and inventory levels, industry consolidation, the increased aftermarket push by many OEMs, and new business models associated with the new aircraft introductions. These trends are especially important considering the aftermarket is traditionally one of the more profitable businesses for aerospace and defense suppliers.

Please join us in Costa Mesa, CA on Thursday, September 4, 2014 (networking at 7:00am, meeting 7:30– 9:00am PST), when an expert panel, including Jim Meyer (Aviation Repair Solutions), Jimmy Wu (Infinity Air), David Donlevy (Parker Aerospace), and Ken Herbert (Canaccord Genuity), will discuss what opportunities the changes in the marketplace are creating, and what companies are doing to take advantage of these opportunities, and to re-position themselves for future success.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members and $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until August 28). Click here to register to attend the meeting

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter was founded by Frontier Associates and D.A. Davidson & Co., and is sponsored by Burdge Logistics, Moss Adams, Hein & Associates, Value Based Project Management, Dorsey & Whitney, and UK Trade & Investment.

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“Driving Ownership and Growth in a Competitive Environment”

“Driving Ownership and Growth in a Competitive Environment”
Los Angeles Chapter meeting on August 15OwnershipOpportunity1

Managing any business is difficult. It is particularly challenging to keep everyone on the same page and all moving in the same direction when acquiring and putting together small businesses with different cultural backgrounds and business philosophies. Over the last 15 months Bob Swelgin has brought together four companies and acquired a product line from a fifth company. The total business has grown over 20% and is on plan to grow another 20% this year.

Please join us in Los Angeles on Friday, August 15, 2014, 7:30am – 9:00am PDT (networking at 7:00am), when Bob Swelgin, President, Smart Electronics and Lark Engineering, will describe how he overcame these challenges to create a trusting and progressive environment where everyone in the company can be called on to interface with the customers without concern – where people feel a sense of ownership and look forward to celebrations when targets are hit and feel some responsibility when those targets are missed.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members and $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until August 8). For more information and to register to attend the meeting in person or for free via the web, go to http://adflaaug14.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Los Angeles chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum was founded by Frontier Associates and the 62 Mile Club, and is sponsored by Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, Moss Adams, Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Mitchell, IFS, and UK Trade & Investment.

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“How to Innovate over a Long Term: The Boeing AH-64 Apache”

“How to Innovate over a Long Term: The Boeing AH-64 Apache”
Arizona Chapter August 12 meeting (Phoenix)ah-64-apache 1

How do you develop a defense product that maintains its usefulness and leading edge characteristics over decades, while simultaneously meeting a wide variety of requirements from different services and nations?

Please join us in Phoenix on Tuesday, August 12, 2014, (networking at 7:00am, meeting 7:30– 9:00am), when Cash Striplin, Senior Manager, Apache Business Development, The Boeing Company, will describe how, since its inception, the AH-64 Apache has been developed using incremental technology insertions at regular intervals to ensure that the world most capable multi-role combat helicopter meets the needs of the warfighter today and in the future.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members and $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until August 5). For more information and to register to attend the meeting, go to http://adfazaug14.eventbrite.com.

Click here for more information about and to join The Aerospace & Defense Forum.

The Arizona Chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum is led by individuals from Phoenix Logistics, KinetX Aerospace, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Greenberg Traurig, Snell & Wilmer, and Frontier Associates.

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“Applying Social Enterprise Collaboration in A&D”

“Applying Social Enterprise Collaboration in A&D”
Orange County Chapter meeting on August 7key_benefits_of_social_business_workforce_collaboration

Manufacturing in the Aerospace and Defense (A&D) sector involves the same disciplines and requirements as every other manufacturing segment-plus. Plus the fact that it is nearly always high tech and strongly engineering oriented, customer centric, project driven with rapid change as a given. A&D manufacturers need all the help they can get, and appropriate use of information technology for improved communication and collaboration can go a long way to help in meeting these challenges.

Please join us in Costa Mesa, CA on Thursday, August 7, 2014 (networking at 7:00am, meeting 7:30– 9:00am PST), when Kathie Poindexter, Manager, Product Marketing, Epicor Software Corporation will describe how social enterprise interactions lie at the core of meeting the growing business demands to improve responsiveness and encourage collaboration and innovation throughout the A&D organization.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members and $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until July 31). Click here to register to attend the meeting

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Orange County chapter was founded by Frontier Associates and D.A. Davidson & Co., and is sponsored by Burdge Logistics, Moss Adams, TriVista, Hein & Associates, Value Based Project Management, Dorsey & Whitney, and UK Trade & Investment.

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“The EDGE Innovation Network”

“The EDGE Innovation Network”
Los Angeles Chapter meeting on July 18Innovation 1
Supported by General Dynamics C4 Systems, the EDGE Innovation Network is an open community model where industry, academia, non-profit and government organizations can collaborate to rapidly deliver new technologies and innovative capabilities to warfighters, homeland security professionals and first responders. Membership is free.

Please join us in Los Angeles on Friday, July 18, 2014, 7:30am – 9:00am PST (networking at 7:00am), when Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Pete Palmer, Director, EDGE Innovation Network will discuss how EDGE can potentially increase business opportunities in the government sector and industry for small and mid-size companies by focusing research investments on technology and capabilities that customers and users truly need.

The meeting is free for A&D Forum members and $40 for non-members ($30 Early Bird until July 11). For more information and to register to attend the meeting in person or for free via the web, go to http://adflajul14.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The Los Angeles chapter of The Aerospace & Defense Forum was founded by Frontier Associates and the 62 Mile Club, and is sponsored by Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, Moss Adams, Jeffer, Mangels, Butler & Mitchell, IFS, and UK Trade & Investment.

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Tour of Fleet Readiness Center Southwest

Tour of Fleet Readiness Center Southwest
San Diego Chapter meeting on July 22NorthIsland aircraft

Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) is located at Naval Air Station North Island (San Diego), “the birth place of naval aviation.” The Command provides overhaul, repair, and modification of Navy and Marine Corps front line tactical, logistical, and rotary-wing aircraft and their components, including the F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier, H-60 Seahawk, H-53 Super Stallion, E-2C Hawkeye and C-2A Greyhound.

Please join us in San Diego on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 (bus leaves at 7:45am, tour is 8:00-10:15am PST), when we will be briefed on the various services of FRCSW and tour the F/A-18, the manufacturing, the components and the Center Barrel program facilities.

The tour is free for A&D Forum members and $40 for non-members. Registration closes Thursday July 10 at 12 noon PDT. For more information and to register go to http://adfsdjul14.eventbrite.com.

Information about joining The A&D Forum is at https://aerospacedefenseforum.org.

The San Diego chapter was founded by Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton and Frontier Associates, and is sponsored by Capital Edge Consulting, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, LevitZacks, Opus Bank and BNY Mellon Wealth Management.